CEO Hurd responds to spy scandal with HP ad

Piling it on

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HP today released a message from CEO Mark Hurd that vaguely addresses the company's ongoing spy scandal. The missive serves more as an advertisement than a real confrontation with the issues affecting HP.

Hurd has still failed to disclose whether his phone records were tapped as part of HP's spy investigation. In addition, he has failed to address how much he knew about the nature of the investigation. Lastly, Hurd has failed to make proper amends for funding a spy operation that compromised 9 journalists.

But, hey, he's all about teamwork, so cut the guy some slack.

Here's Hurd's message to HP's staff in full.

Mark Hurd Message to Employees

September 8, 2006

Hi, before I begin, I want to be clear that I am speaking to you today as the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, not on behalf of the HP board.

I know that many of you have read the media coverage and speculation regarding the recent actions of the HP Board.My belief is that this has nothing to do with the strategy or operations of Hewlett-Packard.

Unfortunately there has been a long history of leaking company information within the HP board that clearly needs to be resolved, and it will be resolved.

The HP Standards of Business Conduct are our foundation of ethical leadership, and encompass the basic principles that govern our ethical and legal obligations to HP.

The leaking of company confidential information violates our Standards of Business conduct which applies to all employees and Board members.

Clearly things have happened here that are unacceptable. But we will not react to speculation. Instead, we will continue to gather and review all the relevant facts. I can assure you we will get to the bottom of this and take appropriate action.

HP’s values are at the core of this company. These have not changed and will not change. HP’s shared values are a set of deeply held beliefs that govern and guide our behavior.

We are passionate about customers

We have trust and respect for individuals

We perform at a high level of achievement and contribution

We act with speed and agility

We deliver meaningful innovation

We achieve our results through teamwork and

We conduct our business with uncompromising integrity.

The company has made tremendous progress and I thank you again for that.

I have told you several times that building a successful company means we will have our ups and downs, and issues will come up. We are dealing with an issue now.

I am resolved that we will work through this and take the necessary action.

I compliment you for focusing on our business priorities and serving our customers.

I intend to do the same.I ask for your confidence that we will do what is needed and continue to move forward on our path to build the world’s leading technology company.

We have the right strategy, our performance is improving and I believe that’s due to the great performance of our people. We want to stay focused as a group as we continue to pursue our objectives.